Hudson man arrested for robbing Nashua taxi driver

NASHUA — A local taxi driver was robbed at knifepoint while on duty Thursday evening.

The driver, David Benoit of Nashua Taxi, was not injured in the incident.

According to police, Kevin R. Dumont, 26, of 18 Hilindale Dr., Hudson, was a passenger in the cab when he allegedly took out a knife and robbed Benoit around 7:50 p.m. in the area of Concord and Orange streets.

Benoit dropped off Dumont at 39 Orange St. when Dumont allegedly took out a large knife and said, “Give me all your money,” according to court documents. The driver handed Dumont $40, at which time Dumont allegedly insisted that the driver give him his wallet as well, according to a police affidavit on file at the 9th Circuit Court, Nashua District Division.

Benoit handed over his wallet, at which time Dumont took the taxi’s radio microphone and told the driver not to use it, according to the affidavit, adding Dumont held the microphone outside of the car door until he was able to flee the scene.

The driver eventually retrieved the microphone and used it to notify taxi dispatch of the robbery, and subsequently police, according to court documents.

Following a brief search of the area, police learned that Dumont had run into an apartment building on Summer Street. It took authorities about 10 minutes to catch up with Dumont, who was arrested at his mother’s residence on Summer Street.

Once located at Brenda Witalis’ home, police found the missing wallet hidden inside of the house, along with $58 in Dumont’s pocket, according to court records.

“I did it because I am a heroin addict,” Dumont told police during the investigation, according to court documents.

Dumont was charged with a felony count of robbery, held overnight at the police station and arraigned on Friday. His bail was set at $15,000 cash or surety, and Dumont is scheduled to be back in court for a probable cause hearing on Aug. 14.

If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison, according to police. An employee who answered the phone at Nashua Taxi would not discuss the incident on Friday. Benoit was unavailable for comment.

Dumont has an extensive criminal background.In 2009, Hudson police charged Dumont with burglary and four counts of possessing narcotic drugs with an intent to distribute. At the time, police alleged that Dumont stole more than $9,000 in items from a home on Gabrielle Drive, and while executing a search warrant during the investigation they allegedly discovered more than 10,000 prescription pills at Dumont’s residence with an estimated street value of $27,000. He was also previously arrested by Hudson police in 2011 for two counts of unauthorized taking.